Handle and operating lever assembly for flushing tanks



April 26, 1949. I M. KELLE R HANDLE AND OPERATING LEVER ASSEMBLY FOR FLUSHING TANKS Filed June 24, 1946 7 WWV 2 I. 2 I 923 3 B .l .3 am

INVENTOR. FRED M. KELLER Patented Apr. 26, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HANDLE AND OPERATING LEVER ASSEMBLY FOR FLUSHING TANKS 8 Claims.

The present invention relates generally to flushing tanks and more particularly to a handle and lever assembly for actuating a flush valve.

In mechanisms of this character, it is highly desirable both from an economic as well as a manufacturing standpoint that the handle and flush lever assembly comprise as few parts as possible consistent with a sturdy construction which will operate smoothly, easily and accurately. It is also desirable that the parts be so constructed and arranged as to require a minimum degree of relative movement in accomplishing their respective functions.

Further, it is desirable that lever and handle assembly means be provided which can be fully pre-assembled at the factory and can be installed into a flush tank merely by simple insertion into a suitable opening provided for it in the flush tank and the tightening of a single element.

More particularly it is desirable that the parts be capable of such pre-assembly Without inconvenience and that such pre-assembly be accomplishecl without sacrifice of strength and/or ease or accuracy of operation.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a handle and actuating lever assembly for flushing tanks which is economical to manufacture, accurate in operation and sturdy in construction.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the above character having a minimum number of parts and which will operate with a high degree ofsmoothness and accuracy.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the above character which can be fully pro-assembled at the factory, installed directly and easily into a flush tank and affixed by the tightening of only a single element.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the above character having only a single critical element holding the parts together, limiting rotative movement and preventing or limiting in and out movement of the handle and lever with respect to the tank.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the above character wherein the said single element does not carry any material load so as to subject it to any material stress.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the following description taken in connection with the conventional flushing tank and showing flush valve operating linkage with which the present invention is associated.

Figure 2 is a view of the handle and flush lever assembly and associated parts taken substantially along the line 11-11 of Figure 1 with certain of the parts being shown in section and others in elevation.

Figure 3 is a view taken substantially along the line III-III of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a horizontal view taken substantially along the line IV--IV of Figure 2 but showing the flushing lever in elevation.

Figure 5 is an elevational view of one end of the flushing lever and the mounting fixture for the assembly, the parts being shown out of their normal operating relationship for the sake of clarity.

Figure 6 is similar to Figure 5 with the parts in their normal operating position.

In accomplishing the above-named objectives I have provided parts so constructed and arranged that they are held in assembled position, the lever limited in rotative movement with respect to the flush tank and the lever held against in and out movement with respect to the flush tank, all by the primary agency of a single element, and yet the arrangement is such that no material load is carried by said element at any time. The flush lever is made from material of rectangular crosssection, bent to form a rotative portion passing through the tank wall, said rotative portion being twisted to form four point bearing contact with the means supporting it. The free end of the rotative portion is received into the hollow head of a handle non-rotatively with respectthereto, and is held in place by a suitable pin which also passes through a circumferentially elongated opening in a member associated non-rotatively with a wall of the flush tank. Thus the pin holds the lever and handle together, limits their rotative movement with respect to the flush tank and prevents in and out movement with respect thereto.

Referring now to the drawings, reference numeral l 0 indicates a flushing tank of conventional design having flushing provisions associated therewith including an outlet and a cooperating ball valve (not shown) which may be actuated through articulated linkage l l by a lever l2. The tank [0 may also contain a float controlled inlet valve of well known construction (not shown) and an overflow pipe l3 having a linkage guide l4 secured thereto.

A mounting fixture, or escutcheon, is indicated generally by reference numeral "5 and comprises ahollow barrel portion exteriorly threaded as at I? to receive a locking nut l8. Adjacent to one end thereof, the mounting fixture I6 is exteriorly of the tank formed with an enlarged annular flanged portion forming a head l9 adapted to abut the exterior face of a wall of the flushing tank II) when in assembled position with respect thereto. The outer face of the annular head I9 of the mounting fixture is provided adjacent its outer periphery "with "an annularly s'lia'iped, exreu proj ecting flange 23 the purpose of which will more fully appear as the description proceeds. Immediately behind the annular head I9, the exterior of the mounting fixture i's shaped td-form a rectangular base 2| adapted to fit ina si'mi'larly shaped recess or opening in the wall of the fiushing tank to prevent rotation of thelnoiiritin'gfixture with respect thereto. Rear-wardly of the' rectangular base 2| the mounting fixture may be formed with a smooth annulus 20 adaptdto receive a rubber or fibersealing gasket 22 which tXIill'be engaged by the llipk-ifig mit twwheh the parts are in assembled position.

The handle 24 provided with a generally H611liivv heald '2 6 havin g a lafiei-ally extehdirig Skirt portion 2 1 adapted to engage, and os'cillate with i 'espect 'to, the annular 'head -19 of the mounting fixture i6 exteriorly of the flushing tank.

ating lever I2 is offset at 'rig'ht 'angles to provitle a remove 'po'rtion 25 which ext/ends through -the mouiiting fixtiii-e I F6 'to the exte'r'ior or the ilus'hing tank It! Where it is 'engaged by-an operating sheare -24.

As-shown in FigHYeS Z, 4' and 5 f-the drawings the rotfative portion 5 of thel'ver H e is twisted as"at 28' throug appreximatiyise=er slr"one. tation "and the 7? free 'e'nd thereof is bent 3 laterally to form a rectangular, iiat footportion 29*tolie Fin the general positron-shown in Fi'gure-Zsothat tiie' handled4-"and the lever 5 2 Will-be positioned *r the" desiredariguiar rl-atioliship'when the parts are assembled.

The magma-me of 'this 'tw-isting may beTeaidiIy altered to provide, within all normally desire d lmits, anyprecise -angular relationship needed -bet"v\-'een the handle fit-and the le'ver I H. 'Il'lis "'twis 'g"-also prov-ides a foiir-linebearin'g contact between the rotative' portion 25-" and the internal walls 'off'the fixture H5,- byfiirllich loose- "nets and rac-tlii'ig thereof within said mounting exturearejpreveiitedtan'qa fifn'ilyg'uided rotation of saidrotative portion '25 onasubstantiah 11nvar mg xis is sec'ured. Jr

isrevidedwvith a boss "-31 extending: radially from l'il-ie -iflrier periphery 6f the skirt 2T to substantially'the eeet rer the handlehead andjas here shdwnjis tapped in a bearing falce38 positioned para-net pd the axis ef-retet qn er the handle toreoeive -a threaded pin- 136113 32 which" secures the warts in a'ssen'ibledrelation aswiii latefmo'ie ma appear.

-otheriineans rnayalternatively be provided for securingthis 'p'in bolt-in positionfi"-a rid the use of seen other m'eens is within the scope er this' inhand'leito'rec'eive thesimi- 4 tween the handle head and the head IQ of the mounting fixture.

By reference to Figure 2 of the drawings, the relative position and function of the parts when 5 in assembled relation will be clear. Diametrically opposite the threaded opening in the boss 3| which is within the handle head 26, the skirt portion 21 is provided with an opening 36 to receive the min-bolt 32, sand the Ea xially extending arcuate projection "zl3'on the head 19 of the escutcheon is provided with a circumferentially elongated opening 50 (Figures 3 and 5) through which the pinbolttlpasses, forming a lost-motion connection th'erewith. The end 52 of the lever, near the foot 29, is also provided with a relatively close fitting opening?! through which the pin-bolt 32 passes :before being threaded into the boss 3|. Said pinbolt has a flange 5| which engages the parts ad- "j'acent thereto of the rotative portion 25, and when 20 the pin-bolt is fully tightened holds said rotative por-tion securely againstthesaid boss'ii I I'n operati'on, movement' of the handle 24 in a counterclockwise direction as vi'ewed in Figure 1, oi' in aclockwise direction as viewedinFigure 3,

25 will a'cl'rtoraise the fiushing-lever I2 through tlre medium of :the foot portion 29 thereof which -is :engaged by the defining walls *of 'the recess '33 termed in the handie head. At the same I time, thepin-bolt 32 may move to the leit in Figure 3 23 without interference. Likewise, the said elongated slot 5 0 will permit counter-rotation orthe handle 24 when the flushing lever l 2 'reassumes its lowered'position. llhis lostmotion connection al- 35 "so serves the' function of-securing the handle head and the mounting- 'escutcheon against any'relative axial movement While permitting relative oscillating movement of the handle, since --sa-id slot is of suchdimension in 'the' dire'ction of the axis we: the escutcheon I 6 that the pin-bolt 32 only 'has :a sliding clearance with the'- walls-of said --s=1ot and -is held thereby against movement with respect tothe escutcheon insuch axialdirection.

Relative displacement ofthefl-u'shlever with respect to the handle isobv-iou'sly preveiited bythe pin bolt 32 engaging-therotative portion 2 5 ofthe -lever adjacent totlie foot 29- tightly engaging the boss 3| of the head 26. Unitary-rotation of 5O the handle and; lever l2 is insured -without undue -stress'on said bolt 32- by'reasonsof' the foot-portion 29 thereof :lying in the: recess 33. The-primary transfer of forces: is thus from the handle head through the walls ofits recess'33 to the lever-foot eportion received into said recess and thenceitothe remaining parts-of the leverma-nd=the pin bolt -actsonly to hold theparts in-position.

While only-ene-speoific embodiment has been herein shown-and described, it -willbe obvious to those skilled-in theart that various modifications in" construction and design' may-be madewithout departing from the-spiritor scope ofetheainvention which isto be limited only by-the:-appended claims.

What is claimedand desiredto be secured by I Letters Patent-is 1. 'In an assembly foractuating thevalve of=a 'flushing' tank, the combination: a hollowmounting fixturesuppor-ted-bysaid-tank and having a headportion exteriorlyeof said -tank, said: head 7 portion being provided with an axiallytextending arcuate 'fiange" having-a circumferentiallyelongated opening therein, an operatinghandle having ajhead provided with a skirtportionadapted '75 toosci llateon said mountingfixture and also provided with a securing boss and a non-circular recess interiorly thereof, a valve actuating lever interiorly of said tank having an angular rotative portion formed thereon extending through said mounting fixture in rotatable relation thereto, and said rotative portion having at its free end a foot portion received into said non-circular recess in said handle head to be engaged for rotation therewith, and a securing element connecting said foot portion to said securing boss, said securing element pasing through said elongated opening in said arcuate flange to provide a lost motion connection between said handle head and said mounting fixture.

2. In an assembly for actuating the valve of a flushing tank, the combination: a mounting fixture supported by said tank and havinga portion thereof positioned exteriorly of said tank including an axially extending flange having a circumferentially elongated opening therein, an operating handle having a blind recess therein and adapted to rotate on said mounting fixture and to receive said axially extendin flange, an actuating lever interiorly of said tank and having an angular portion thereof extending into said blind recess, and a single securing element having a shoulder thereon substantially removed from either end passing through a portion of said handle, through said elongated opening in said axially extending flange and through said actuating lever into a wall of said blind recess, whereby axial separation of said parts is prevented by said shoulder and limited rotation of said handle and said lever with respect to said mounting fixture is permitted.

3. In an assembly for actuating the valve of a flushing tank, a hollow mountin fixture carried by said tank and having a flange extending exteriorly thereof provided with a circumferentially elongated opening, an actuating lever having a rotative portion carried ro'tatively by said mounting fixture, an operating handle having a blind recess therein, the end of said rotative portion of said actuating lever and said flange received in said blind recess, said handle connected to oscillate said actuating lever, and means connecting said handle and said mounting fixture flange through said elongated opening, whereby relative oscillation of said handle with respect to said mounting fixture is permitted and axial separation of said parts is prevented.

4. In an assembly for actuating the valve of a flushing tank, the combination: a hollow mounting fixture carried by said tank, an actuating lever of rectangular cross-section wherein one transverse dimension is substantially greater than the other dimension having a rotative portion received rotatively within said mounting fixture and extending therethrough for rotation on an axis, an operating handle operatively affixed to the free end of said rotative portion, one part of said rotative portion being twisted axially with respect to another part.

5. In an assembly for actuating the valve of a flushing tank, the combination: a hollow mounting fixture carried by said tank, an actuating lever of rectangular cross-section wherein one transverse dimension is substantially greater than the other dimension having a rotative portion received rotatively within said mounting fixture and extending therethrough for rotation on an axis, an operating handle operatively affixed to the free end of said rotative portion, said handle having a bearing face substantially parallel to said axis of rotation, and an elongated recess substantially perpendicular to said axis of rotation, and one part of said rotative portion held against said bearing face and an end part of said rotative portion being substantially perpendicular to said axis and received non-rotatively into said recess, means holding said one part of said rotative portion against said bearing face.

6. In an assembly for actuating the Valve of a flushing tank, the combination: a hollow mounting fixture supported by said tank and having a head portion exteriorly of said tank, said head portion bein provided with an axially extending arcuate flange having a circumferentially elongated opening therein; an operating handle having a head provided with a skirt portion adapted to oscillate around said mounting fixtur and also provided with a recess interiorly thereof and a securing boss within said recess; a valve actuating lever interiorly of said tank having an angular rotative portion with a fiat side near its free end formed thereon extending through said mounting fixture in rotatable relation thereto, and said rotative portion having said free end received into said recess in said handle head to be engaged for rotation therewith, and a securing element holding the flat side of said free end of said rotative portion against said securing boss, said securing element passing through said elongated opening in said arcuate flange to provide a lost motion connection between said handle head and said mounting fixture.

7. An assembly for actuating the valve of a flushing tank as described in claim 6 in which said valve actuating lever is of rectangular crosssection wherein one transverse dimension is greater than the other transverse dimension and one part of said rotative portion is twisted axially with respect to another part.

8. In an assembly for actuating the valve of a flushing tank, the combination: a hollow mounting fixture supported by said tank and having a head portion exteriorly of said tank, said head portion being provided with an axially extending arcuate flange havin a circumferentially elongated opening therein, an operating handle having a head provided with a recess interiorly thereof and also provided with a securing boss Within said recess; a part of said head portion of said mounting fixture received into said recess, a valve actuating lever interiorly of said tank having an angular rotative portion formed thereon extending through said mounting fixture in rotatable relation thereto, and said rotative portion having its free end received into said recess in said handle head to be engaged for rotation therewith, and a securing element connecting said free end of said rotative portion to said securing boss, said securin element passing through said elongated opening in said arcuate flange to provide a lost motion connection between said handle head and said mounting fixture.

FRED M. KELLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,147,764 Theleen July 2'7, 1915 2,233,159 Crampton Feb. 25, 1941 2,248,126 Schafer July 8, 1941 

